Police took a murder suspect into custody Wednesday night in connection with a fatal stabbing a week ago near the front gate of Kuhio Park Terrace in Kalihi.

Following a seven-day search, police arrested RJ Ham at a Waipahu home about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Ham was booked at the main police station, police said.

Ham, a convicted felon who was on probation for assault, is a suspect in the murder of Fugitogamala Savea, 18, police said. Savea died after he was stabbed through the heart on the morning of Dec. 26, police said.

According to police, Savea was standing with friends near a mini-mart at 2215 North School St. Shortly after midnight, Savea was approached by a man in his 20s whom Savea apparently didn't know, police said.

After an argument broke out between the two, the attacker stabbed Savea in the chest with a knife and fled, police said.

Savea was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, and was pronounced dead at 1:16 a.m. Dec. 26.

The attacker was described at the time as having shoulder-length hair, and wearing a baseball cap, white T-shirt and black shorts. HPD investigators later focused on Ham as a suspect.

Ham, who was known to hang out in the Kalihi area, was convicted of second-degree assault in May 2006.

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